JC Penney lists the 138 stores it is planning to shutter

More than a third of all the J.C. Penney department stores in OR will be shuttered by this summer in a wave of closings expected to affect up to 140 stores nationwide.

Sears Holdings, which includes the Sears and Kmart brands, announced plans to close 150 stores earlier this year, and Macy’s is closing 68 stores and cutting 10,000 jobs.

The Limited recently closed its women’s clothing stores at the Wyoming Valley Mall and Viewmont Mall as well as stores at malls across the country.

“Thanks to the loyalty of the customers in the area, we’re remaining open and we’re adding departments in our store as we speak”, said Cory Bufalini, manager of the Calcutta store.

JC Penney is the largest store in the Dunn Avenue shopping center, which also has a Winn-Dixie and a Bealls Outlet. It opened as the Golden Rule Store in 1902. “Closing a store is an easy decision, especially give the local impact on our valued employees and our most loyal shoppers”, Ellison said.

The stores it is closing represent about 14 percent of its current store count of about 1,000, but less than 5 percent of total annual sales. In the statement, Ellison said the company is pleased with the double-digit growth of jcpenney.com.

Nationwide, J.C. Penney will close 138 stores and a facility in Lakeland, Florida.

Most stores will start the liquidation process on April 17, and the closures will be complete by June. “We are even more delighted for the store, its managers and associates – they are the folks who make a difference each and every day”.